Theme:
7. Archaeology of Sustainability through World Crises, Climate Change and War
Session format:
Session with presentation of 6 slides in 6 minutes
Title:
Sense and Sustainability in Foraging Communities
Content:
Palaeolithic and Mesolithic societies are characterized by remarkable adaptability and resilience in the face of environmental challenges. Our 2022 discussion session about the contribution of prehistoric experiences to current debates showed that this topic evokes intense discussions in our community. Therefore, we examine in this discussion session evidence for sustainability, resilience, adaptability, and change management within foraging societies from deep past to historic times. How did hunter-fisher-gatherers sense and make sense of the changes in their environment? How did they manage their resources, adapt to changing environments, and implement strategies for survival and growth? What were their strategies for shifting climates, resource constraints, and evolving social dynamics? From the answers, we can draw inspiration and valuable lessons, that can be gleaned from our ancestors, for addressing contemporary global challenges.
Key topics to be discussed in this session include:
Sustainable Resource Management: How did Palaeolithic, Mesolithic, and later foraging societies acquire, utilize, and conserve critical resources such as food, water, and materials? What can this teach us about sustainable practices today?
Technological Adaptations: Which innovations in tools and technologies allowed early humans to thrive in various landscapes? What are the implications for modern technological adaptation in the face of challenges like climate change?
Social and Cultural Strategies: Which roles do social structures, knowledge sharing, and cultural practices play in enabling hunter-fisher-gatherer communities to respond to environmental shifts and challenges?
Resilience and Change Management: How did foragers adapt to abrupt environmental changes and which relevance do their strategies have for modern change management and resilience-building efforts?
We aim to foster a rich dialogue among experts and attendees and invite thought-provoking contributions from Palaeolithic, Mesolithic, and/or ethnoarchaeological research (6 min./ 6 slides) to spark a stimulating discussion that bridges the gap between prehistoric and modern sustainability, resilience, adaptability, and change management practices.
Keywords:
Palaeolithic, Mesolithic, hunter-fisher-gatherer, sustainability, resillience, change management
Session associated with MERC:
no
Session associated with CIfA:
no
Session associated with SAfA:
no
Session associated with CAA:
no
Session associated with DGUF:
no
Session associated with other:
Palaeolithic and Mesolithic Community (PaM)
Main organiser:
Silje Bentsen (Norway) 1,2
Co-organisers:
Sonja Grimm (Germany) 3
Affiliations:
1. Nordland County Council
2. University of the Witwatersrand
3. Zentrum für Baltische und Skandinavische Archäologie (ZBSA)
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